EP3493293B1 - Insulating facing for housing - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a housing according to the preamble of claim 1.

The CN 204 144 345 U shows a housing of the type mentioned. A two-layer insulating cladding with an intumescent material is from the US 2015/0 151 510 A1 known. The WO 2017/139 826 A1 shows a housing in which batteries are thermally insulated by an intumescent material.

Batteries are increasingly being used in vehicles in order to operate the vehicles electrically. The batteries are housed in battery housings that are as heat-resistant or fire-resistant as possible, in order to protect them from ignition or to prevent the fire from spreading from the inside to the outside, for example in the event of a fire acting on the battery housing from the outside or heat acting from the outside. Be made of steel or aluminum. Other materials are also conceivable for the construction of a battery housing.

With this in mind, the DE 101 34 145 B1 a fire-retardant battery housing has become known, the wall of which has an outer layer made of steel. The battery housing has an inner layer in which a thermally active material is contained. The thermally active material is structurally converted by the external heat.

Specifically, the DE 101 34 415 B1 Zeolites proposed to give off water of crystallization and thereby keep the temperature inside the battery housing at approx. 100 ° C, although outside temperatures of 1000 ° C prevail. However, zeolites are often granular or powdery and therefore not easy to process.

Furthermore, in practice it can also happen that a battery ignites and flames develop inside the battery housing. Then the aforementioned zeolites would be directly exposed to fire and could trickle out of the layer in an unfavorable way due to the influence of flames. This could result in extremely hot spots on the battery housing where the material of the battery housing could no longer withstand the heat.

In the case of battery housings made of aluminum in particular, parts of the battery housing could melt at temperatures of over 660 ° C.

Against this background, there is a need for a housing, in particular a battery housing, that is as easy to manufacture, retrofit or modify as possible in order to withstand an accident or an exothermic reaction.

Against this background, the invention is based on the object of specifying an insulating cladding for housings, in particular battery housings, which allows a housing to be equipped effectively for any case of an accident or the occurrence of an exothermic reaction.

The present invention achieves the stated object by the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, it was initially recognized that an insulating cladding which comprises at least two layers can be attached as a whole to an inner wall of a housing, in particular a battery housing. There is no need for any granular materials to be laboriously processed inside Wall are attached.

It has also been recognized that a thermally activatable material, which changes its volume under the action of heat and / or heat and / or fire, changes the thermal conductivity of the entire insulating cladding in a favorable manner through its expansion. The thermal conductivity is reduced according to the invention.

Finally, it has been recognized that the expansion advantageously reduces the free volume of the interior of a housing, in particular a battery housing. This reduces the effectively available fire volume. In this respect, an effective flame-retardant structure within a housing, in particular a battery housing, can be produced relatively easily.

A third layer could be provided, the second layer being sandwiched between the first layer and the third layer. A third layer can be spaced apart from the first layer by the expansion of the thermally activatable material. The first and third layers are thermally decoupled from one another in that they are spatially separated from one another in the event of an accident or the occurrence of an exothermic reaction.

At least one layer could be designed as a fabric or mat which has mineral fibers and / or non-combustible fibers. A fabric or a mat, which can also not be woven, forms a good base for the captive application of the thermally activatable material. The thermally activated material can be easily processed and adapted to spatial conditions. It is conceivable, for example, to cut the fabric or the mats to size after they have been coated with the thermally activated material.

The first layer could be configured as a fabric or mat made of glass fibers or high-temperature-resistant materials and the third layer or further layers could or could likewise be configured as a fabric or mat made of glass fibers or high-temperature-resistant materials. Glass fibers are heat-resistant and / or fire-resistant and / or heat-resistant and can be easily processed.

At least one layer facing the housing interior could be electrically non-conductive. Alternatively or additionally, this layer could be configured as an electrically non-conductive film. This ensures that no electrically conductive contact is made between the batteries and the insulating cladding when the housing is used as a battery housing.

The thermally activatable material could be designed as an intumescent material. Intumescent material shows particularly good expansion behavior. An intumescent layer reacts when exposed to heat and / or fire and can therefore be activated thermally. It reacts by swelling many times its original layer thickness. The layer builds up an insulating protective layer through carbonization. The layer or the carrier layer on which it rests is protected against the effects of heat and / or fire.

In contrast to fire protection panels or sprayable cement-based systems, an intumescent layer or an intumescent lacquer can be used in a decorative and protective manner. A structure to which the layer is applied is not adversely affected.

Intumescence is usually achieved by at least three components. The first component is a carbon source such as pentaerythritol or dipentaerythritol. The second component is a propellant, such as melamine and solid chlorinated paraffin. The third component is a mineral acid catalyst such as ammonium polyphosphate.

As soon as an intumescent layer is warmed or heated, several chemical reactions take place. Ammonium polyphosphate breaks down and produces phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid causes pentaerythritol or dipentaerythritol to dehydrate and creates a carbonaceous layer. The propellant decomposes with the release of non-flammable gases. The gases lead to the foaming of the carbon-containing layer. This creates a foam structure that is highly effective as a heat insulator.

Expandable graphite and vermiculite may be mentioned as intumescent materials, which react, for example, from approx. 200 to 250 ° C by swelling many times their original layer thickness.

Several layers of thermally activatable material could be provided. This enables a particularly strong expansion or increase in volume of the insulating cladding.

Two layers of thermally activatable material could be separated by at least one fabric or mat, the fabric or mat having mineral fibers and / or non-combustible fibers. The separating fabrics or mats can also act as thermal insulators and at the same time stabilize the swollen materials against disintegration

An adhesive could be provided by means of which the insulating cladding can be fixed to a wall, the adhesive being assigned to an outer layer of the insulating cladding or the adhesive being designed as an independent layer. By means of an adhesive, the insulating cladding can be assigned to a wall of a housing, in particular a battery housing, particularly over the entire surface.

Against this background, the adhesive could be designed to be self-adhesive. Alternatively or additionally, the adhesive could be designed as a high-temperature adhesive. A self-adhesive adhesive allows the insulating cladding to be arranged on the wall particularly quickly. A high-temperature adhesive reliably holds the insulation cladding to the wall even after a long fire.

A housing which comprises at least one inner wall has an insulating lining of the type described here, the insulating lining being arranged on the inner wall.

Such a housing, which is preferably made of aluminum, steel, plastic or high-temperature plastic, is effectively protected against an accident or the occurrence of an exothermic reaction, from inside and outside. The housing is not limited to any particular application and can be made of any suitable material.

The housing is preferably used in vehicles, in particular motor vehicles.

However, the housing can also be used in buildings, in particular in the home.

The housing could be designed as a battery housing. Batteries can be arranged or received in the housing interior of the battery housing.

The housing could have a cover, on the inner wall of which the insulating cover is arranged. In the event of a fire or an accident, the insulation cladding reacts to defined sealing edges and seals at least one certain period of time. Against this background, a leg of a wall of the housing could rest against the insulating cladding with the formation of a sealing edge or a sealing surface. In the closed state of the housing, the leg then presses against the insulating cladding, which is intumescent or intumescent in the event of fire.

An IP seal could be arranged between an edge area or edge bead of the cover and a contact surface of a wall of the housing. Alternatively or additionally, the IP seal could be arranged in the
Housing jammed or screwed. An IP seal should meet protection class IP67 and seal against dust and water.

The IP seal can be made from an elastomer. If the IP protection is destroyed or decomposed in the event of a fire, the insulating cladding described here can perform sealing tasks.

The housing has at least one valve for pressure compensation and / or pressure overload reduction, which has an intumescent material for closing a fluid line. Alternatively or additionally, the housing has at least one cable bushing which has an intumescent material for closing an opening for a cable. A valve for pressure equalization and / or pressure overload reduction can reduce excess pressures in the interior of the battery housing through a fluid line into the atmosphere. A valve for pressure equalization and / or pressure overload reduction preferably has an intumescent material which closes the fluid line in the event of a fire. A cable bushing can lead a cable from one chamber within the housing through a chamber wall into another chamber. A cable bushing can also lead through an outer wall of a battery housing. The cable bushing preferably comprises a sealing body which has a passage for the cable, the sealing body having or made of an intumescent material Material is made. In the event of fire, the sealing body can seal the opening through the chamber wall or outer wall for the decomposed or burned cable for a certain period of time in a fire-proof manner.

Show in the drawing

Fig. 1

a schematic view of an insulating cladding which has two layers, an adhesive being assigned to an outer layer for contact with a wall,

Fig. 2

a schematic view of an insulating cladding that has three layers, two fabrics made of glass fibers sandwiching a middle layer with thermally activated material between them,

Fig. 3

a schematic view of an insulating cladding, which has two layers with thermally activatable material, which are separated from one another by a fabric made of glass fibers,

Fig. 4

a schematic view of a housing with an inner wall on which an insulating covering is arranged,

Fig. 5

a battery housing, which has valves for pressure equalization and / or pressure overload reduction and a cable bushing,

Fig. 6

a detailed view of the cable entry according to Fig. 5 ,

Fig. 7

a detailed view of a valve for pressure compensation and / or pressure overload reduction according to FIG Fig. 5 ,

Fig. 8

a sectional view of a cover to which an insulating cover is assigned, and

Fig. 9

a sectional view of a further cover, which is assigned an insulating cover.

Fig. 1 shows an insulating cladding 10 for equipping a housing 6, comprising at least two layers, wherein a first layer 1 is connected to a second layer 2 and wherein the second layer 2 comprises a thermally activatable material 2a. The thermally activatable material 2a changes its volume under the action of heat and / or heat and / or fire.

Fig. 2 and 3rd each show a further insulating cladding 10 ′, 10 ″ in which a third layer 3 is provided, the second layer 2 being sandwiched between the first layer 1 and the third layer 3.

At least one layer 1, 3 is designed as a fabric which has mineral fibers and non-combustible fibers. Specifically, in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the first layer 1 is designed as a fabric made of glass fibers and is shown in FIG Fig. 2 the third layer 3 is also designed as a fabric made of glass fibers.

In the Figs. 1 to 3 the thermally activatable material 2a is designed as an intumescent material.

A plurality of layers 2 with thermally activatable material 2a can also be provided. This is in Fig. 3 shown. In Fig. 3 two layers 2 with thermally activated material 2a are separated by at least one further layer 4, namely a fabric, the fabric having mineral fibers and non-combustible fibers, namely glass fibers.

In Fig. 1 an adhesive 5 is provided by means of which the insulating lining 10 can be fixed to a wall, the adhesive 5 being assigned to an outer layer, namely the first layer 1, of the insulating cladding 10.

The adhesive 5 is designed to be self-adhesive and designed as a high-temperature adhesive.

Fig. 4 shows a housing 6, comprising at least one inner wall 7, an insulating covering being arranged on the inner wall 7. The insulation cladding can be of the type in Figs. 1 to 3 The insulating panels 10, 10 ', 10 "shown may be manufactured. The housing 6 is made of aluminum, but can also be made of steel, plastic or high-temperature plastic.

The housing 6 is only shown schematically and can be used in many areas.

However, the housing 6 is preferably designed as a battery housing.

In this case of use, a layer 3 of an insulating cladding facing the housing interior 8 is electrically non-conductive. For example, the insulating cladding 10 'according to FIG Fig. 2 or the insulating cover 10 "according to FIG Fig. 3 be arranged so that its third layer 3 is non-conductive and faces the housing interior 8 in which batteries are arranged.

Fig. 5 shows that a housing 6 'has a cover 11, on the inner wall 7' of which the insulating cladding 10, 10 ', 10 "is arranged.

Fig. 5 specifically shows a battery housing which has a cover 11 in which valves 12 for pressure equalization and / or pressure overload reduction are arranged. A valve 12 for pressure equalization and / or pressure overload reduction can pressurize the interior 6b of the battery housing through a fluid line into the

Reduce atmosphere 6a and has an intumescent material which closes the fluid line in the event of fire. The side of the cover 11 facing the interior 6b is provided with an insulating cladding 10, 10 ', 10 ". The quality of the fire protection can thus be improved even further.

The interior 6b of the battery housing is divided into chambers 13a, 13b, which are separated from one another by chamber walls 14a. Battery cells (not shown) are arranged in the chambers 13a, 13b.

Fig. 5 and 6 show that a cable bushing 15 of the battery housing comprises a sealing body 16 which has a passage for a cable 17 or a line. Fig. 5 shows, with reference to the chamber wall 14a, that the sealing body 16 has an intumescent material or is made of such a material. In the event of a fire, the sealing body 16 can close the opening through the chamber wall 14a for the decomposed or burned cable 17 in a fire-proof manner.

Fig. 7 shows that the battery housing has a cover 11 in which at least one valve 12 for pressure compensation and / or pressure overload reduction is arranged.

The valve 12 for pressure equalization and / or pressure overload reduction can reduce excess pressures in the interior 6b of the battery housing through a fluid line 22 into the atmosphere 6a and has a seal 26 made of intumescent material that can be lifted against a spring force and which closes the fluid line 22 in the event of fire.

Fig. 7 specifically shows a valve 12 for pressure equalization and / or pressure overload reduction for the battery housing, comprising a housing with a first section 23 facing the atmosphere 6a and a second section 24 facing the interior 6b of the battery housing, wherein the two sections 23, 24 are connected to one another in a closable fluid-conducting manner.

At least one partial valve is provided which can be thermally activated in order to shut off a pressure-reducing fluid line 22 between the first section 23 and the second section 24 in the event of a fire.

Specifically, a first partial valve is provided which can be thermally activated in order to shut off a first, pressure-equalizing fluid line 25 between the first section 23 and the second section 24.

Specifically, a second partial valve is also provided, which can be thermally activated in order to shut off a second, pressure-reducing fluid line 22 between the first section 23 and the second section 24.

In normal operation, the first fluid line 25 is permanently open to equalize the pressure between the atmosphere 6a and the interior 6b of the battery housing and can only be closed by exposure to heat. The second fluid line 22 is closed in the event of fire and can normally be released by releasing a sealing seat in order to reduce higher pressures.

Fig. 8 shows that an IP seal 20 is arranged between an edge region or edge bead 18 of the cover 11 and a contact surface 19 of a wall of the housing 6 ′. The IP seal 20 is clamped in the housing 6 '. The IP seal 20 can also be glued in or fastened in some other way.

Specifically, the cover 11 is bent in a U-shape in the edge area so that one leg of the U can press the IP seal 20 against the contact surface 19, the contact surface 19 is as a plateau of an S-shaped upper edge of a wall 21, here an outer wall of the housing 6 ', designed.

From the contact surface 19 of the wall 21 protrudes upward in the direction of the cover 11 from a leg 19a, which separates the IP seal 20 from the insulating cladding 10, 10 ', 10 "and on the insulating cladding 10, 10', 10" to form a Sealing edge rests.

Fig. 9 shows that an IP seal 20 is arranged between an edge area 18 'of a further cover 11' and a contact surface 19 'of a wall 21' of a further housing 6 ". The IP seal 20 is clamped in the housing 6". The IP seal 20 can also be glued in or fastened in some other way.

A leg 19'a protrudes upward from the contact surface 19 'of the wall 21' in the direction of the cover 11 'and rests against the insulating cladding 10, 10', 10 "with the formation of a sealing edge or a sealing surface a cavity is formed in the wall 21 ', the lid 11', the IP seal 20 and the insulating casing 10, 10 ', 10 ". The lid 11 'is formed on its edge in sections parallel to the contact surface 19' and the leg 19'a.

Reference numerals

1

first layer

2

second layer

2a

thermally activated material

3

third layer

4th

Fabrics made from fiberglass

5

Adhesive

6, 6 ', 6 "

Case or battery case

6a

the atmosphere

6b

Inside of 6 '

7th

inner wall of 6

7 '

inner wall of 6 '

8th

Housing interior

10, 10 ', 10 "

Insulating cladding

11.11 '

cover

12th

Valve (pressure compensation, pressure overload reduction)

13a, b

Chamber of 6 '

14a

Chamber wall

15

Cable entry

16

Sealing body from 15

17th

electric wire

18th

Bead of 11

18 '

Edge area of 11 '

19, 19 '

Contact surface of 6 ', 6 "

19a, 19'a

Legs of 19, 19 'or 21.21'

20th

IP seal

21, 21

Wall of 6 ', 6 "

22nd

second fluid line of FIG. 12

23

first section of 12

24

second section of 12

25

first fluid line of 12

26th

Seal of 12

Claims (13)

1. Housing (6, 6', 6") comprising at least one inner wall (7, 7'), where insulating lining (10, 10', 10") for fitting out the housing (6, 6', 6") is arranged on the inner wall (7, 7'), where the insulating lining (10, 10', 10") comprises at least two layers (1, 2, 3, 4), where a first layer (1) is joined to a second layer (2), where the second layer (2) comprises a thermally activatable material (2a) and where the thermally activatable material (2a) changes its volume under the action of warmth and/or heat and/or fire,
   characterized in that the housing (6') has at least one valve (12) for pressure equilibration and/or overpressure release which comprises an intumescent material for closing a fluid conduit and/or the housing (6') has at least one cable feed-through (15) which comprises an intumescent material for closing an opening for a cable (17) .
2. Housing according to Claim 1, characterized in that a third layer (3) is provided and the second layer (2) is accommodated in a sandwich-like manner between the first layer (1) and the third layer (3).
3. Housing according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one layer (1, 3, 4) is configured as woven fabric or mat which comprises mineral fibres and/or nonflammable fibres.
4. Housing according to Claim 3, characterized in that the first layer (1) is configured as woven fabric or mat composed of glass fibres or high-temperature-resistant materials and in that the third layer (3) is configured as woven or fabric mat composed of glass fibres or high-temperature-resistant materials.
5. Housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one layer (3) facing the interior (8, 6b) of the housing is electrically nonconductive and/or in that this layer (3) is configured as electrically nonconductive film.
6. Housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermally activatable material (2a) is configured as intumescent material.
7. Housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of layers (2) comprising thermally activatable material (2a) are provided.
8. Housing according to Claim 7, characterized in that two layers (2) comprising thermally activatable material (2a) are separated by at least one woven fabric or a mat, where the woven fabric or the mat comprises mineral fibres and/or nonflammable fibres.
9. Housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an adhesive (5) by means of which the insulating lining (10) can be fixed to a wall (7, 7') is provided, where the adhesive (5) is assigned to an outer layer (1) of the insulating lining (10) or is configured as independent layer.
10. Housing according to Claim 9, characterized in that the adhesive (5) is self-adhesive and/or is configured as high-temperature adhesive.
11. Housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by a configuration as battery housing in the housing interior (8, 6b) of which batteries can be arranged or can be accommodated.
12. Housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (6', 6") has a lid (11, 11') on the inner wall (7') of which the insulating lining (10, 10', 10") is arranged and/or in that the housing (6', 6") has a lid (11, 11') on the inner wall (7') of which the insulating lining (10, 10', 10") is arranged, where an arm (19a, 19'a) of a wall (21, 21') of the housing (6', 6") rests against the insulating lining (10, 10', 10") to form a sealing edge or sealing area.
13. Housing according to Claim 12, characterized in that an IP seal (20) is arranged between a peripheral region (18') or peripheral beading (18) of the lid (11, 11') and a contact area (19, 19') of a wall (21, 21') of the housing (6', 6") and/or in that the IP seal (20) is clamped or screwed in the housing (6').

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